The adoption of foreign children reflects the most basic of human needs and emotions. It’s also a growing international business—subject to abuse and corruption. We hear about personal and cultural conflicts and national pride. Also, Congress overrides a Presidential veto, and bad news for Wall Street and the economy.

FROM THIS EPISODE

The adoption of foreign children reflects the most basic of human needs and emotions. It’s also a growing international business—subject to abuse and corruption. We hear about personal and cultural conflicts and national pride. Also, Congress overrides a Presidential veto, and after some bad moments on Wall Street, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke talks about the economy.

African children at an orphanage in the Chadian town of Abeche, which serves as the temporary home of 103 chidren at the centre of an 'abduction' row. Photo: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke told Congress today the US economy is likely to slow, but what he did not say might be more important. There have been two bad days on Wall Street this week and increased concern that the housing meltdown will lead to recession. E.S. Browning reports for the Wall Street Journal.

Spurred by church groups, charities and Hollywood stars, American families had been adopting foreign children at an increasing rate. But there are signs of corruption in what's become an international business. Members of a French aid group, Zoe's Arc, are under arrest in Africa on charges of stealing 103 children from Chad while claiming they were orphans from Darfur. The United Nations says they were not, but kids—ranging from one to 10--who were living with family members in Chad, where adoption is virtually forbidden under Islamic law. The incident has sparked outrage all over Africa, in part because colonial history and cultural misunderstanding. Meantime, an adoptive American mother struggles with personal pain and cultural differences. Why don't more American parents adopt American kids?